Ballast liner



June 21, 1932. N BRIDGES ET AL 1,864,183

BALLAST LINER Filed March 25, 1931 2f Sheets-Sheet 1 lmass S y gw-vr' June 21, 1932. N. BRIDGES ET AL BALLAST LINER Filed March 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATESv YPATENT FFIC NOAH BRIDGES, F MULVANE, AND THEODORE TUREIN MOOE, 0F GASSODAY, KANSAS BALLAST LINER Application filed March 25,V 1931. Serial No. 525,219.

Our invention relates to a device especially adapted for dressing or marking what may be termed as the toe portion of the ballast whereby the ballast on a railroad right-0f# A way will be uniformly lined up.

' The invention has for its object the provision of means whereby the desirable lining up of the ballast may more quickly be accomplished than has heretofore been the case;

l@ the device being adapted to be readily secured to a well known type of track car which may be power driven or drawn by a suitable motor driven car on the track rails.

The objects and advantages of the invention will be readily comprehended from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of our device shown applied to a track car in operative poac siton.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

" Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 2 as viewed by the arrows.

Figure 7 is a detail view, partially in section, taken on the line 7 7 of Figure 2 as viewed by the arrows.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the Y line 8-8 of Figure 3 as viewed by the arrows.

The embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawings comprises a vertically disposed frame portion consisting of suit- 40. able sized nipples or outer sleeves 15, threaded or otherwise suitably secured in a T-coupling 16, connected to the outer end of the main supporting member 17, whereby the deviceV is supported from a track car, shown at A, disposed on the track-rails B of a railroad right-of-way where the ballast, usually consisting of crushed stone and indicated at C, is to be dressed or aligned and a dened marking of the toe of the ballast is to be performed.

The member 17 may be secured to the car A in any convenient and adjustable manner,l

as for example on the lower surface of the canfloor by an elongated tubular coupling or.

sleeve 18, rigidly secured in place against movement and of internal dimensions suficient to telescopically receive the tubular member 17. y

ln view of the fact that weight of the device will be disposed at a distance beyond the side of the car, we show the coupling or sleeve 18 extending the full width of the car A.

In order to permit lateral adjustments of the device to be made, we show the ends of the sleeve 18 extending slightly beyond the car iioor and these ends as well as the tubular supporting member 17 are shown provided with holes, as at 19 in Figure 1, for the purpose of receiving a suitable pin 2O when the member 17 has been moved lengthwise of coupling member 18 to the desired position and one of the plurality of holes in member 17 has been brought into register with the hole in the end of sleeve or coupling 18,

thereby holding member 17 against move-` ment longitudinally of the sleeve 18.

The construction and arrangementj ust described is more clearly shown in the detail view vFigure 4, wherein the coupling member or sleeve 18 is shownsecured to the lower side of the car floor by suitable U-bolt 21.l

Disposed through the sleeves or nipples 15 and the T-coupling is a tubefor pipe 22l slidingly held with the lower end provided with a suitable collar 23 adapted to receive a reducing bushin place and of suitable length; V'

ing 211 which in turn receives a nipple 25 i whereby the aligning element holding frame is secured to the slidingly mounted pipe 22.

The marker and ballast liner is preferably in the nature of a concavo-conveX disk 26 provided with a suitable' hub 27 rotatably mounted on the axle portion or lower transwhose lower end l end of nipple 33 secured versely disposed member 28, whose opposite ends are secured in the elbow couplings 29, 29 at the lower ends of the vertically disposed members of the skeleton frameV shown in Figure 3.

For purposes of cheapness in manufacture and comparative lightness, while at the same time possessing the requisite strength, we prefer to construct the device ofA tubular members or pipes as shown consisting of vertically disposed side portions coupled together at the lower ends by the axle forming member 28 as heretofore described and coupled together at an intermediate portion later to be described.

One side of the skeleton frame consists Vof tube 30,-the lower end whereof is secured to elbow 29,--T-coupling 31,-in which the upper end of tube 30 is secured-and tube 32, is secured in T-coupling 31.

The other side of the skeleton frame is shown preferably consisting of tubes or nipples 33 and 34 removably connected together by means of the union nut 35; with the lower in elbow member 29, while the upper end of nipple 34 is secured in the T-coupling 3G, whose u iper end is provided with the tube or pipe 37.

We prefer to construct one side of the skeleton frame of the nipples and union nut as shown, to enable easy assembly of the parts to be made and also enable dissociation of these elements to be readily accomplished for the removal and replacement of the liner and marking disc 26.

The intermediate coupling portion of the skeleton frame consists of the nipples 38, 38 secured in the T-couplings 31 and 36 and secured together by a T-coupling 39 to which the nipple 25 is secured.

The upper portions 32 and 37 of the skeleton frame are slidingly supported by the transversely disposed brace or clamp 4() consisting of the complemental straps 41, 41, see Figure 8, firmly clamped on the sleeve member 15 by means of bolts 42, while the outer socketed ends of the straps embrace the pipe members 32 and 37 so as to permit the latter to have reciprocatory movement during operation of the device.

The clamp 40 also provides seats for the lower ends of the coiled springs 43, 43, which encircle the tubes 32 and 37 g the springs being normally held under compression by the washers 44, secured on the upper ends of tubes 32 and 37 in any suitable manner as by pins disposed through apertures in the tubes as shown in Figure 3. As the outer shell or casing, consisting of the nipples or sleeves 15, is immovably supported by means of member 17 from the car A, the braceclamo 40 is likewise immovable and hence the skeleton frame with the marker and liner member or disc will be yieldingly held, adapting the device to unevenness in the right-ofway and permit the disc to ride over any immovable obstructions that may be encountered.

In order to control the action of the liner and marker disc 26, we provide the rod 46 which extends through the inner tube or pipe 22, with the lower end disposed in the T-coupling 39 and bearing on its inner wall as shown in Figure 3. The upper end of this rod 46 is preferably bifurcated and pivotally secured at 47 to the long operating handle orl lever 48, see Figures 1 and 2.

The inner end of the operating lever 48 extends beyond the pivotal point 47 and is fulcrumed on a link 49 which is pivotally se` cured on a bolt 50 disposed through the complemental straps 51, 51, which are clamped about the outer sleeve or nipple 15 by means of the bolts 52, see Figure 6, where the low` er end of the link 49 is shown preferably bifurcated. Y

In order that the marker and liner disc 26 may be positioned for effective operation, the skeleton frame on which itis secured is arranged at a slight angular relation to the track-rails and the car A to which the device is secured, as more clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, so that the disc will be disposed at an angle relative to the path of travel.

As further means for firmly supporting the device in place, we provide the diagonal brace members 53, 53, see Figures 1 and 2. These brace members 53 preferably each consist of a pair of telescopically arranged tubes 54 and 55, with the adjacent end of the outer tube 54 apertured while the adjacent end of the inner'tube 55 is shown provided with a plurality ofapertures as shown at 56, see Figure 5, to receive a suitable pin 57 disposed through the registering apertures of both tubes. This permits longitudinal ad` justments of the brace members 53 to be made in keeping with the adjustments of the supporting member 17 obtained by holes and pins 19 and 20, as heretofore described.

The outer ends of the tubes 54 are iattened and apertured as shown in Figure 7 to permit the ends to be clamped between the come plemental clamp straps 58, 58 which in turn are clamped about the nipple or sleeve member 15 of the outer casing of the device; while the outer ends of the tubes are bent into hook form so as to hook into suitable holes in the car floor at opposite ends as shown at 59 in Figures 1 and 2. With these diagonally disposed brace members the device is rigidly supported in proper position.

In operation the device is applied to a track or push -car and the support-ing member 17 Y moved in a direction transversely of the car and therefore of the right-of-way so as to position the colter or liner at the toe or what is to constitute the outer edge of the ballast and this position maintained by placing pin 20 through the proper aperture 19 and the hole in the end of the coupling or sleeve 18 on the car, at which time the brace members 53 are also adjusted and the hook ends then secured to the car floor as heretofore described. l/Vhile the car is moved along the rails in any convenient manner and at proper speed, the operator, walking along the right-of-way, depresses operating lever a8 to the desired extent so as to suiiiciently depress the colter or liner element. It is apparent that with the liner element or colter disposed at the proper angle relative to the direction of travel, a defined toe marking and lining up of the ballast is accomplished; while the liner element is yieldingly held to l compensate for any obstructions that may be encountered.

The various elements of the frame portion of the device have been shown and described as preferably consisting of tubular I' members possessing` the requisite strength without adding undue weightand cost of manufacture, but it will be understood that in certain instances bars or rods may be used without, however, departing from the spirit of our invention which has been described in terms employed merely as terms of description and not as terms of limitation, as structural modications are possible.

What we claim is:

l. a ballast liner device comprising a. laterally disposed frame portion adapted to be secured to a track car for pendently supporting the device beyond the side of a track car; a vertically disposed frame portion secured to the outer end of the laterally disposed frame portion and involving a pair of telescopically arranged tubes with the inner tube slidably arranged; means secured to the lower end of the slidable inner tube and adapted to move the ballast toward the track; and means disposed through the telescopic tubes whereby the position of said first inentioned means may be controlled.

2. A, device of the character described comprising a laterally disposed frame portion adapted to be adjustably secured to a track car for pendently supporting` the device beyond the side of a track car; a vertically disposed frame portion slidably secured to the outer end of the rst mentioned frame portion and involving a pair of telescopically arranged tubes with the inner tube vertically slidable; a ballast liner element mounted at the lower end of the inner tube and provided with a surface adapted to move the ballast toward the track; spring means operatively associated with the inner tube whereby the ballast liner element is yieldingly held in operative position; and plunger means disposed through the tubes whereby the position of said element may be controlled.

3. A ballast liner comprising, in combination with a track car provided with socketed means, a horizontally disposed frame member adapted to be adj ustably secured in said socketed means on the car so as to pendently support the device beyond the car side, a vertically arranged frame portion at the outer end of the frame member; ballast aligning means disposed at the lower end of the vertically arranged frame portion; a mounting frame for the aligning means vertically movable in the vertically arranged frame f portion; spring means for yieldingly supporting the mounting frame; a plun'er for forcing said mounting frame and a igning means into operative position; and a. lever whereby said plunger is controlled.

el. A ballast liner comprising, in combination with a. track car, a horizontally disposed frame member adapted to be adjustably secured to the car so as to pendently support the device beyond the car side; a vertically disposed frame portion secured at the outer end of said horizontal frame member; a frame portion slidably mounted on said vertically disposed portion; spring means intermediate of the vertical frame portion and the slidably mounted frame portion for yieldingly holding the latter in place; a. colter member rotatablysecured to the lower end of the slidable frame portion; and means whereby said slidable frame portion with the colter member are forced into operative position.

5. A ballast liner device of the character described comprising, in combination with a track car, horizontally disposed extensible means adapted to be secured to the car so as to pendently support the device from the car beyond the side thereof; a vertically arranged frame portion secured to the outer end of said means; a frame slidably secured to said vertically arranged fr ame portion; means secured to the vertically arranged frame portion whereby said slidable frame is held at an angle relative to the direction of movement of the car; spring means intermediate of said last mentioned means and the slidable mounted frame for yieldingly supporting the latter in place; ballast aligning means secured to the slidably mounted frame; a plunger for depressing said frame and aligning means; and a lever fulcrumed on the vertically arranged frame portion and operatively associated with said plunger for actuating the latter.

NOAH BRIDGES. THEODORE TURPIN MOORE. 

